Hold off holiday ads
As most of us know, Christmas is right around the corner. The holiday spirit is starting to linger. The commercials are starting to consume your daily television watching. But is September too early to start with Christmas commercials?
In September Kmart aired its first Christmas commercial on television. The irony that went with it was priceless. The first words were "Hello America. We understand it's ridiculous to think about Christmas now."
But is four months prior too early for Christmas commercials? The amount of commercials that start to take over your television before Christmas is outrageous. Airing the commercials four months prior to that occasion is even more insane.
Most people don't even begin thinking about Christmas shopping, or let alone Christmas, until after Thanksgiving. America needs to slow down and hold off on its excitement just a few more months.
HANNAH RAMSEY
Benton
An irresponsible act
Does hiring another lottery adviser to the tune of $750,000 a year plus incentives and percentages of sales strike anyone else as irresponsible? Looks simpler to me to fire the lottery director and his staff and hire others. Or an even better idea would be to shut the dang scam down completely.
It seems useless consulting firms operating virtually risk-free are making more money in this country than productive businesses. Besides, the next administration is going to make college "free," so what would be the point of the lottery?
RAY VANZANDT
North Little Rock
The party of diversity
Help me to understand the claim that the Democratic Party is the party of diversity. The Democratic presidential candidates consist of old white people. I find it really interesting that these old white Democratic candidates are pandering to the blacks and Latinos and insisting they know what is best for minority groups. Really.
In contrast, the Republican presidential candidates consist of a black, two of Latino heritage, a woman, a millennial, an Asian heritage candidate. It begs the question: Which is the party of diversity?
If diversity matters, perhaps we should take a second look at the party candidates.
MORRIS POLSTON
Hot Springs Village
Future of the district
Little Rock's Historic District Commission is currently working to improve its guidance for future development in the MacArthur Park Historic District. That guidance will shape the face of the district over the coming decades.
One key consideration is whether the district should allow modern-looking construction, or whether design should be more reflective of those architectural styles which existed in the district at its formation. At present, modern-looking construction has been granted certificates of appropriateness by the commission. This is concerning; this type of construction dilutes the very historicity of the district. It will necessarily look less and less historic with the passage of time as older structures succumb to fire, weather, neglect or removal--and modern-looking structures take their places.
Some have argued that futuristic construction is acceptable on the district's periphery. However, such an approach allows for a continual whittling away or erosion, as each new layer of modern-looking construction is used to justify the next intrusion. Historic districts, like designated wilderness or wildlife preserves, need to be protected in their entirety.
I don't know your particular position on this, but I do invite you to submit your views to the commission and to join in the dialogue. For my own part, I regret my past erroneous assumption that futuristic architecture would never be allowed as it is patently inconsistent with the concept of an historic district. People should feel that they are stepping back in time when they enter an historic district, not stepping into an unknown future.
You can share your views as to what is appropriate for new construction by addressing them to the Historic District Commission at bminyard@littlerock.org.
DALE PEKAR
Little Rock
Get to know Eldridge
I enjoy reading John Brummett's columns and learn a lot from them. However, I have to disagree with his assessment of Conner Eldridge, the newly announced Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate. As it happens, on the same day in which John's column about Eldridge was printed, I was able to personally meet Eldridge and hear him speak and answer questions.
John has his "straddle" theory about the strategies of Democratic candidates. And I definitely think he is historically correct in his observations. However, in Conner's case, I think John's straddle theory is misapplied.
I've been around long enough to recognize a political weasel when I see one. We've been electing plenty of them to public office from both political parties.
Conner Eldridge doesn't seem like that kind of person to me. I like what he has to say about intellectual honesty and about belief in publicly stated principles. But he is no idealist, no extremist. He looks at all sides of an issue and works with other people to get things done. He has a history of helping small businesses grow and a history of fighting crime. I think he would be a welcome change in the Senate, even though I am pretty sure he would, from time to time, take positions with which I disagree.
I think John Brummett would do himself and his readers a favor by getting to know Eldridge better. I think he's painting Eldridge with the wrong brush.
THOMAS L. ATWOOD
West Fork
Hostess with least-est
Hats off to the Hostess snack cake company! It has done its part to fight obesity. In the last year, product size has been reduced by about 30 percent and, by raising prices at the same time, not only my waist size but my pocketbook shrink at the same time. The Hostess cupcake has gotten so small it would make a good game piece on a Monopoly board. Hostess even started putting its fried fruit pies in a box now instead of a paper wrapper, presumably to hide the product's size.
I think I will start dating Little Debbie.
BOB CARNATION
Austin
Editorial on 10/25/2015